Match Report: Battling Bournemouth End Eight-game Winless Run at Chelsea
As far as shocks in football go, Bournemouth's victory at Chelsea has to be one of the biggest of the campaign. Eddie Howe's side came to Stamford Bridge on an eight-game winless run, while Jose Mourinho's team looked to have turned a corner after a three-game unbeaten run in all competitions. However, if there were a script involved prior to Saturday's evening kick off, it was one the visitors did not read as Chelsea huffed and puffed yet failed to break down a solid Bournemouth team, landing a smash and grab win in west London as a result. The defending champions have now lost four of their last seven league games at Stamford Bridge. To put that into context, they had lost just three of the previous 69 on home turf.
Mourinho opted to leave Diego Costa on the bench for the second successive Premier League game having benched the Spaniard in last week's 0-0 draw with Tottenham, utilising a false-9 system once more, this time with Pedro as the furthest forward and Eden Hazard shifted to the left, though his front four were granted license to roam freely across the final third in a fluid Blues attack. While the decision to field such a system at White Hart Lane worked as the Blues were the team largely on the back foot, against a Bournemouth side intent on putting men behind the ball and soaking up the pressure, Chelsea struggled in offensive positions in the opening 45 minutes. Pedro, Hazard and Willian looked as bright as can be, but were often denied by an inspired Artur Boruc in the first half.
Oscar, though, was far from at the races as his WhoScored rating (6.34) suggested. The Brazilian managed just 18 touches before the interval and with Chelsea lacking a focal point on the frontline, it was little shock to see him sacrificed at half time for Costa. Immediately, the Blues looked for more effective in the final third with a recognised frontman, despite what's been a thoroughly disappointing season so far for the Spain international. Given Chelsea were stifled both in the air and on the ground when they did encroach upon the Cherries' penalty area, the introduction of Costa as least gave the Blues fans a reason to be cheerful, one of few in what has been a season devoid of goodwill for the Premier League champions.
While a false-9 system promised ample movement in the Chelsea attack, the deployment of Pedro, Hazard, Willian and Oscar muddled matters for the home side in first half. The Blues struggled to find sufficient space to properly attack Bournemouth, which played into the visitors' hands. They were able to easily deal with Chelsea's limited offensive threat, particularly with Oscar resembling a mere passenger prior to his withdrawal. Without the space to create, Willian - perhaps Chelsea's best player this season - was unable to flex his creative muscles, especially having been moved out wide to accomodate one of Hazardand Pedro on the frontline and the underwhelming Oscar in the number 10 role.
However, despite a purposeful showing in the final third after half time, it was Bournemouth who snatched all three points in a spirited performance at Stamford Bridge. While under the cosh for much of the second half, the Cherries came away from the capital with a 1-0 win courtesy of a Glenn Murray winner, a little under two minutes after he came on for Joshua King. While the former Palace striker will draw the plaudits for his header 10 minutes from time, the result was made possible by Eddie Howe's defence. The Cherries were never going to come to Stamford Bridge and play Chelsea off the park, with the onus understandably to soak up pressure and hit the hosts on the break, a plan the worked to a tee. Artur Boruc may have endured his critics this season, but it was the Pole who earned the WhoScored man of the match award with a rating of 8.54.
The goalkeeper touched the ball more times (61) than any other Bournemouth player, highlighting just how influential he was in their victory. Seven saves was a hugely commendable return by Boruc, with the experienced shotstopper playing a vital role in ending the Cherries' eight-game winless run. Right-back Adam Smith (8.19) and captain Simon Francis (8.00) quickly followed suit with the former making more tackles (6) and the latter more clearances (8) than any other player on the pitch as the away side held firm to routinely deny Chelsea over the 90 minutes.
Howe, after the full time whistle, said the win was "the biggest in the club's history" and he certainly was not wrong. A victory at the home of the champions was nothing more than they deserved following a resolute showing in the capital. Luck has not been on Bournemouth's side this season, with injuries hindering their chances of consolidating a place in England's top tier, but Saturday was a clear example of a team regimentally following their manager's plans and to then be rewarded for their hard work. For Chelsea, meanwhile, it's back to the drawing board for Mourinho and co. The false-9 system that worked effectively against Spurs somewhat backfired on them against Bournemouth in a defeat that poses more questions than answers and leaves the club just three points above the relegation zone.
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